Nazik Hammad

Dr. Nazik Hammad is a medical oncologist, educator, and global health leader based in Toronto, Canada, where she serves as Professor at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. She is one of the most influential voices in global oncology workforce development, cancer education, and equity-centered cancer care, with a particular focus on Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Born in Sudan, Dr. Hammad brings a uniquely personal commitment to addressing the profound disparities in cancer care between high-income and resource-constrained settings. She has been Co-Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the leading pan-African oncology organization, and has been a driving force behind the Choosing Wisely Africa initiative — which identifies low-value practices in African cancer care — as well as landmark studies on oncology workforce, training, and research equity. She has also published clinical research in gastrointestinal oncology, with expertise in colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers.

Current Positions

• Professor, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 2023–present

Professional Experience

• Medical Oncologist, Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, July 2009–June 2023 (14 years)
• Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, Queen’s University, Canada, October 2014–June 2023
• Co-Chair, Education and Training Committee, African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), 2015–June 2023
• Professor, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 2023–present

Research Activity

• Global oncology workforce and training: Designed and led landmark global surveys of medical oncology workload, training, infrastructure, and job satisfaction across 65 countries; co-authored the foundational Journal of Global Oncology (2017) paper on global MO workload; published African, Canadian, Indian, and European subanalyses; led scoping reviews of oncology training and education initiatives in LMICs; co-author of the Current Oncology paper on competency-based workforce development in global oncology
• Choosing Wisely Africa: Co-founder and core investigator of the Choosing Wisely Africa (CWA) initiative under AORTIC; led the development and publication of the landmark “Ten Low-Value or Harmful Practices” in African cancer care (JCO Global Oncology, 2020); conducted cross-sectional studies on adherence to CWA recommendations across Sub-Saharan Africa; organized the inaugural Choosing Wisely Africa conferences (2022–2023)
• Competency-based medical education (CBME): Pioneer of CBME implementation in Canadian medical oncology training programs; led implementation at Queen’s University (one of the first programs in Canada); published on EPA (Entrustable Professional Activity) assessment tools, quality of feedback, trainee perceptions, and program evaluation; co-author of best-practice guide “Ten ways to get a grip on designing and implementing CBME”
• African oncology education and accreditation: Co-authored studies on undergraduate oncology education in Sudan, Rwanda (EDUCAN Project), and Nigeria; examined the role of accreditation in oncology training in LMICs; contributed to policy recommendations for African oncology nursing education and professional development
• Cancer in conflict settings: Led research and advocacy on cancer care in conflict-affected regions, including Sudan’s 2023 military conflict and its near-total collapse of cancer services; co-authored a manifesto on improving cancer care in conflict-impacted populations (The Lancet, 2024); co-authored analysis of radiotherapy and conflict (The Lancet Oncology, 2024)
• Gender equity in oncology: Co-led mixed methods research on challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa; contributed to sex and authorship analyses in global cancer research; participated in the Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer (2023) and its subsequent framework (2025)
• Research equity and clinical trial authorship: Co-authored landmark analyses on participation of LMICs in oncology RCTs (JAMA Network Open, 2022; Cancer, 2023); examined allocation of authorship and patient enrollment; analyzed the African cancer research ecosystem and disparities in research output
• Cancer in Africa — epidemiology and policy: Co-author of the landmark Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa (2022); contributed to Africa guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma; research on medical tourism for cancer treatment in Africa; contributed to national cancer control plan analyses (The Lancet Oncology, 2024)
• Neglected populations: Co-author of the BMJ Global Health call to action on cancer care for nomadic pastoralist communities in sub-Saharan Africa (2024); contributed to research on people with albinism in Tanzania and smartphone-based skin cancer detection; geriatric oncology awareness and practices in Africa (2025)
• Gastrointestinal oncology (clinical): Published clinical research in colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and anal canal cancers; contributed to Eastern Canadian GI Cancer Consensus Conferences; investigator on bevacizumab-based phase II trials in gastric/GEJ cancer; published on CA19-9 in pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer prognostic factors, metformin and colorectal cancer, and proton pump inhibitors and CRC survival; contributed to the continuous versus intermittent chemotherapy meta-analysis in mCRC (Annals of Oncology, 2014)
• Common Sense Oncology: Contributor to the Common Sense Oncology movement (The Lancet Oncology, 2023); co-led competency framework work for CSO medical oncology curricula (ASCO 2025)

Memberships / Affiliations

• Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC)
• African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) — Co-Chair, Education and Training Committee, 2015–2023
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• Choosing Wisely Africa — co-founding Task Force member

Areas of Specialization

• Medical oncology — gastrointestinal cancers (colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, anal canal)
• Global oncology workforce development and training in LMICs
• Cancer education and competency-based medical education (CBME)
• Cancer equity and health systems in sub-Saharan Africa
• Choosing Wisely and value-based cancer care in Africa
• Research equity and representation in oncology clinical trials
• Cancer in conflict settings and humanitarian oncology
• Gender equity in oncology leadership and research
• Cancer control policy in LMICs and national cancer control plans
• Neglected populations and nomadic communities

Publications

Dr. Hammad has authored and co-authored publications in The Lancet, The Lancet Oncology, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Oncology, BMJ Global Health, BMJ Oncology, BMJ Open, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JCO Global Oncology, Journal of Global Oncology, Current Oncology, Cancer, Annals of Oncology, ecancermedicalscience, Journal of Cancer Education, Infectious Agents and Cancer, and The Oncologist, among others.

Select Key Publications:

Rubagumya F, Carson L, Afolayan D, Hammad N, et al. “Medical Tourism for Cancer Treatment: Trends, Trajectories, and Perspectives From African Countries.” JCO Global Oncology, December 2024.

Hammad N, Rubagumya F. “Radiotherapy and conflict: from disruption to expansion and hope.” The Lancet Oncology, September 2024.

Mutebi M, Lewis G, Mukherji D, Ginsburg OM, Hammad N, et al. “Sex and authorship in global cancer research.” BMJ Oncology, April 2024.

Mutebi M, Aryeetey NA, Alemu HK, Hammad N, et al. “Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study.” BMJ Oncology, March 2024.

Abdihamid O, Rubagumya F, Vanderpuye VDN, Hammad N, et al. “Neglected cancer care needs among the nomadic pastoralist communities in sub-Saharan Africa: a call to action.” BMJ Global Health, January 2024.

Trapani D, Murthy SS, Hammad N, Ilbawi AM, et al. “Policy strategies for capacity building and scale up of the workforce for comprehensive cancer care: a systematic review.” ESMO Open, March 2024.

Rubagumya F, Carson L, Mushonga M, Hammad N, et al. “An analysis of the African cancer research ecosystem: tackling disparities.” BMJ Global Health, February 2023.

Hammad N, Ahmed R. “Sudan: current conflict, cancer care, and ripple effects on the region.” The Lancet, June 2023.

Rubagumya F, Mutebi M, Manirakiza A, Booth CM, Hammad N, et al. “Pharmaceutical industry relationships with oncologists in sub-Saharan Africa.” The Lancet Oncology, February 2023.

Ginsburg OM, Vanderpuye VDN, Beddoe AM, Hammad N, et al. “Women, power, and cancer: a Lancet Commission.” The Lancet, September 2023.

Rubagumya F, Fundytus A, Keith-Brown S, Booth CM, Hammad N, et al. “Allocation of authorship and patient enrollment among global clinical trials in oncology.” Cancer 129(14):2124–2135, June 2023.

Hammad N, Ndlovu N, Carson LM, Olapade-Olaopa EO, et al. “Competency-Based Workforce Development and Education in Global Oncology.” Current Oncology 30(2):1436–1457, February 2023.

Rubagumya F, Hopman W, Gyawali B, Booth CM, Hammad N, et al. “Participation of Lower and Upper Middle–Income Countries in Clinical Trials Led by High-Income Countries.” JAMA Network Open 5(8):e2227252, August 2022.

Ngwa W, Addai BW, Adewole I, Kerr D, Hammad N, et al. “Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission.” The Lancet Oncology 23(6):e251–e312, May 2022.

Mutebi M, Lewiison G, Aggarwal A, Vanderpuye VDN, Hammad N, et al. “Cancer research across Africa: a comparative bibliometric analysis.” BMJ Global Health 7(11):e010033, November 2022.

Rubagumya F, Mitera G, Ka S, Booth CM, Hammad N, et al. “Choosing Wisely Africa: Ten Low-Value or Harmful Practices That Should Be Avoided in Cancer Care.” JCO Global Oncology 6:1192–1200, November 2020.

Srivastava A, Jalink M, Moraes FY, Hammad N, et al. “Tracking the Workforce 2020-2030: Making the Case for a Cancer Workforce Registry.” JCO Global Oncology 7:1734–1742, December 2021.

Booth CM, Hammad N. “Childhood cancer care: closing equity gaps on the ground.” The Lancet Oncology, April 2020.

Karim S, Sunderji ZN, Jalink M, Berry SR, Hammad N, et al. “Oncology training and education initiatives in low and middle income countries: a scoping review.” ecancermedicalscience 15:1291, September 2021.

Alrawa S, Tarig Elgadi A, Alfadul ESA, Hammad N, et al. “Five months into conflict: near total collapse of cancer services in Sudan.” ecancermedicalscience 17:1695, October 2023.

Munezhvi M, Hammad N. “Ethical health leadership: Lessons from low- and middle-income countries during COVID-19.” Healthcare Management Forum 34(1):5–9, October 2020.

El-Rayes B, Zalupski M, Bekai-Saab T, Hammad N, Philip PA, et al. “A phase II study of bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel in locally advanced and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.” Annals of Oncology 21(5):1078–1082, March 2010.

Fundytus A, Sullivan R, Vanderpuye VDN, Booth CM, Hammad N, et al. “Delivery of Global Cancer Care: An International Study of Medical Oncology Workload.” Journal of Global Oncology 5:1–12, December 2017.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.